Establishing pharmaceutical care services in an HIV clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To present a brief overview of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and to describe the implementation of pharmaceutical care services for adult patients with HIV infection.


METHODS
University hospital clinic.


METHODS
A pharmacist joined a multidisciplinary team serving HIV-infected patients in January 1994.


METHODS
Current pharmacy services include taking medication histories, educating patients, counseling patients on compliance, monitoring response to therapy, identifying drug-related problems, documenting all interventions, and making therapeutic decisions and formulary choices. The pharmacist also participates in research.


METHODS
The pharmacist sees patients immediately after their physician appointments. Patients with one or more of the following characteristics are targeted to receive pharmaceutical care: multiple drugs, history of noncompliance, initiation of new drug therapy, recently discharged from hospital or emergency department, identification of potential adverse effects, identification of potential drug-drug interactions, and presence of drug toxicities.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacists are uniquely qualified to provide a wide range of pharmaceutical care services to HIV-positive patients. Pharmacy interventions should lead to improved outcomes and decreased costs for a chronic and very expensive disease.
Colombo
J
J
Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy 60612-7230, USA. colombo@uic.edu
D000328:Adult; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010595:Pharmacists; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic